Frequency of vaginal dysbiosis in women of childbearing age according to international criteria in Cali and Ipiales laboratories

Abstract

Introduction. Vaginal dysbiosis in women of childbearing age can affect pregnancy or increase the risk of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). We sought to establish the frequency of vaginal dysbiosis in women of childbearing age, and the quality of the report received by doctors for diagnosis. Methodology. We carried out a retrospective/descriptive study that included 225 records of vaginal smears from pregnant and non-pregnant women, from clinical laboratories of three health service provider institutions, attended in laboratories in Cali and Ipiales. Results. 56.4% of the records came from the municipality of Ipiales and the rest from Cali. The average age of the women was 27.5 years. 60% of the samples analyzed had some type of vaginal dysbiosis. 80.4% of the cases of vaginal dysbiosis occurred in pregnant women, of which 50% were during the first trimester of pregnancy. The quality of the report of vaginal smears was deficient in 50% of the cases. Conclusion. The frequency of vaginal dysbiosis was higher in pregnant than in non-pregnant women, no statistically significant association was found between the frequency of vaginal dysbiosis according to gestational age or ethnicity/race. Additionally, there was much heterogeneity in the way the findings were reported, and a considerable proportion of data was missing in those reports.